by Rick Boettger……. The County will vote April 12th to give the SPCA an extra $150,000 a year “effective immediately” to operate the Marathon animal shelter. This further compounds, until the end of time, the already-$1,000,000 taxpayer loss I have described previously due to the County’s illegal demolition of Stand Up For Animals (SUFA) in 2010 and its replacement by a group of Commissioner George Neugent’s friends, SHARK, who ran it into the ground. Shortly after the County extended SHARK’s’ contract for the Middle Keys shelter [continue reading…]

by M.J. Taylor……. Did you know that Nelson Mandela was labeled a ‘terrorist by the US government as recently as 2008? The label was not removed until 18 years after his release from prison, 15 years after he was awarded the Nobel peace prize, and 14 years after his election as President of South Africa. An act of Congress in 2008 removed that label 5 years before his death. Nelson Mandela was not protected by our First Amendment, a Constitutional protection many US citizens take [continue reading…]

by John Donnelly……. If people recognize no force superior to their desires; then they must fight when their desires collide. Penetrating an eye socket with one’s fingers, so as to detach said eyeball and disable an opponent, might be the outcome from such collisions. Syrian atrocities and “child murder” have been established as the new normal. Acceptable levels of violence and killing have become “standard operating procedure”, as long as such destruction appears to be occurring at a safe distance. Indifferently disposed leaders and media [continue reading…]

by Thomas L. Knapp……. As I write this, two key questions remain unanswered, and a third mostly unasked, about a deadly daybreak attack on Khan Sheikhoun, a northwest Syrian city of (pre-war) 50,000. Hundreds were wounded and as many as 100 killed, apparently chemical weaponry (Turkey’s health ministry believes the agent in question was the nerve gas sarin), on the morning of April 4. The two most obvious questions are who did this, and why? The US government (and unfortunately most American media, acting as [continue reading…]

by Thomas L. Knapp……. On April 4, US president Donald Trump signed a bill repealing some of the previous administration’s rules on Internet Service Providers’ handling of user information. Privacy advocates raised Cain over the legislation, but let’s put it in perspective: The rules in question were only created last October and hadn’t even really been implemented. Internet privacy is going back in time a whopping six months, if that. The sky is not falling. That said, if you’re worried about Internet privacy, there are [continue reading…]

Stock Island man wanted for stealing boat, altering ID numbers A Stock Island man is wanted on an outstanding warrant for stealing a boat from a Stock Island marina and changing the Florida ID numbers on it. The 13 foot Boston Whaler was stolen on October 7th from Hurricane Hole Marina. The boat, with two 50 hp engines on it, was on a trailer at the marina. Surveillance video of the theft shows a light blue Lincoln with a dark blue top towing the vehicle [continue reading…]

Big Pine man arrested for fleeing A Big Pine Key man was arrested Thursday evening for fleeing from a traffic stop. Deputy Ryan Chlebanowski was on patrol at the 10 mile marker of the highway just before 8 p.m. when he saw a suspicious vehicle. The Dodge Caravan was parked on the side of the road, facing traffic; the driver was inside. Deputy Chlebanowski stopped his patrol car behind the van to ask the driver what he was doing there. The driver, later identified [continue reading…]

by Ray Jason……. I was awoken this morning by a tropical alarm clock – the joyous sound of wild parrots flying above my anchored boat. Their airborne chirping reminded me that the last thing that I heard as I dozed off the night before was also from the non-human world. It was the raucous barking of a troop of howler monkeys. Perhaps it was because my sleep had been book-ended by these emissaries from the realm of Nature – but I felt radiantly refreshed. Lying [continue reading…]

by Kirby Congdon……. With political matters becoming more urgent everywhere, this writer has found that one should avoid bringing these conflicts into the medium of poetry. Discussing them or otherwise reacting to them is better handled in an editorial way, as in public letter-writing forums. It is not that such matters are not worth our attention. They are, indeed, our concern. But a poem about a particular event soon becomes out of date and its sense of concern loses its strength as history reconciles a conflict [continue reading…]

Dear Editor, Term limits may actually be coming to Monroe County. On Tuesday the Florida Keys Mosquito Control Board is scheduled to have a discussion on the issue. Look, good governance demands term limits, we need them. Long term incumbency tends to jade public officials. Far too often they become more concerned with their relationships with each other and their relationships with their contributors. Especially deep pocket contributors who have special interests. Some will argue that incumbency brings experience and knowledge to the job, but [continue reading…]

Dear Editor, Three Presidents had the Cajones to deal with their Illegal Aliens. They took that step to ensure JOBS for Americans Hubert Hoover deported ALL Illegal Aliens Harry Truman deported Two(2) Million Illegal Aliens Dwight Eisenhower deported Thirteen(13) Million MEXICANS. IF those presidents could do it why can’t Our President do something similar ?? If people come into our country illegally they are CRIMINALS. These Criminals are costing Taxpayers like You and me over thirty(30)BILLION Dollars a year. Couldn’t our Tax money be put [continue reading…]

On Wednesday evening, April 26, 40 ticket holders will experience a four-course culinary adventure at La te da, 1125 Duval Street, impeccably served with select wine pairings and followed by a one-man all-live female impersonation show performed by Tracey Towers (aka Trey Forsyth) featuring hits made famous by artists such as Shirley Bassy, Adele, Amy Winehouse, Miley Cyrus and Hedwig. Ticket proceeds from the dinner, after-dinner entertainment and a fabulous silent auction will benefit a fund to purchase and donate new equipment for the Key [continue reading…]

Saturday, April 15 at 1:30pm at the Key West Tropical Forest and Botanical Garden, Dr. Bill Irwin, Professor of Biology at Florida Keys Community College, will give a presentation on “GMOs, Neonics and Pollinators: separating fact from fear.” Meet at the Chapel in the KWTF&BG on College Road – turn at the light on U.S. 1. Free for members and students; $5 for non-members. Call 305-296-1504 or visit kwbgs.org. As the human population continues to grow, efficient food production becomes increasingly important. Fortunately, the agriculture [continue reading…]

MARQUESAS KEYS, FL – A multi-agency project to remove 31 abandoned and derelict vessels from the remote Marquesas Keys was completed Friday, March 31, just in time for the start of bird and turtle nesting seasons. Monroe County’s Marine Resources Office led the $61,200 effort that restored shoreline and nearshore habitats in the Marquesas Keys – a group of islands located about 17 nautical miles west of Key West and within the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and the Key West National Wildlife Refuge. These [continue reading…]

Are you a runner who appreciates the natural landscape that surrounds you here in the Keys? Do you cringe at the sight of trash on our shoreline when out for your morning jog or walk? In celebration of Earth Day, the friends group for the Florida Keys National Wildlife Refuges FAVOR is partnering with Southernmost Runners club for a 5K Run/Walk race in Key West on Saturday, April 15th at 8:00am. Runners can enjoy a morning race that starts and ends at McCoy Indigenous Park [continue reading…]

The Florida Department of Health in Monroe County and the Coral City Elks Lodge are hosting an event in light of National Youth HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. The event will take place on Saturday, April 8 from 4pm to 6pm at the Coral City Elks Lodge Conference Room at 1107 Whitehead Street. The movie, “Reflections,” a film written by teens for teens, will be featured. Free pizza, popcorn, soda will be served. All are welcome. For more information, call 305-809-5664.

The final day to submit entries for this year’s Whodunit Mystery Writing Competition is Saturday, April 15. The winner will claim a book-publishing contract with Absolutely Amazing eBooks, free Mystery Fest Key West 2017 registration, airfare, hotel accommodations for two nights, meals and a Whodunit Award trophy to be presented at the 4th Annual Mystery Fest Key West, set for June 16-18 in Key West, Florida. Sponsored by Absolutely Amazing eBooks and supported by the Marion Stevens Fund at the Community Foundation of the Florida [continue reading…]

Kinetic Tiger and Artist’s Kin to Lead Second Annual Papio Kinetic Sculpture Parade—Some Tigers pounce, some (like Tigger) bounce, and one is soon to roll as Grand Marshal of the Key West Art & Historical Society Papio Kinetic Sculpture Parade. Monroe County School District IT Director Joy Nulisch has been selected as a “Papio Ambassador,” a title accompanied by cash support to aid in crafting her concept – a Glynn Archer Tiger look-alike kinetic sculpture float. The soon-to-be kinetic cat, which Nulisch is building along [continue reading…]

Artist, Author, and Software Developer Brings Exciting Changes to the Art Business Gildea Contemporary Gallery has named David Bethune as Gallery Director where he will join owner Paul Gildea in the day-to-day management of the Southard St. store. “It’s been a dream of mine to run a gallery since I got into the art business,” says Bethune. “I’m thrilled to be working with Paul and representing the highest quality contemporary art in town.” Bethune comes to Gildea Gallery from Millionaire Gallery where he was Sales [continue reading…]

His Majesty King Christopher Rounds requests your presence for a Magnificent Feast at La Te da 1125 Duval St to help raise funds for Wesley House Family Services on Wednesday April 12th at 6:00pm. After a scrumptious meal, a very special performance will take place in The Crystal Room, starring Christopher Peterson as Judy Garland and Mr. Bobby Nesbitt as a guest star and piano man. Tickets for dinner and show are a mere $125.00 and show only, which starts at 8:30, is only $50.00. [continue reading…]